Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle has announced the release of 279 jangebe school girls on Tuesday in an interview with news men.
He declares that a dime was not paid by the state government as ransom before the abducted girls were freed.
Matawalle said the students were returned very healthy and himself and his wife were at hand to receive them.
Asked if ransom was paid, the Governor said about 30 repentant bandits were instead used in the negotiations which led to the release of the school girls.
He said with the development at Zamfara, it is a challenge for the federal government to strengthen the number and capacity of the Nigerian security agents since the existing number is inadequate.